Catholic High School Athletic Association
The Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) is a nonprofit organization that governs interscholastic athletics for approximately 45 Catholic high schools primarily in the New York metropolitan area, including New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, and the Buffalo region.[1][2] Founded in 1927, the CHSAA aims to promote competitive sports programs that foster physical development, teamwork, and Catholic moral values among student-athletes, serving as the largest such league in the United States.[2][3] Organized into four geographic sections—New York, Brooklyn-Queens, Nassau-Suffolk, and Buffalo (via the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association, encompassing Catholic high schools in that region)—the CHSAA oversees competitions in over a dozen sports, including basketball, baseball, soccer, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling, with divisions structured by school size (AA, A, and B) to ensure fair play.[1][2][4] Member schools, drawn from the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and the Diocese of Buffalo, span multiple counties including six in the New York metropolitan area and emphasize coaches as role models who integrate faith-based education into athletic training.[1][2][5][6] The association's championships culminate in intersectional finals and state-level tournaments, often intersecting with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) for broader recognition, while initiatives like the Captain's Leadership Club reinforce leadership and ethical development rooted in Catholic principles.[7][8] Over its nearly century-long history, the CHSAA has produced numerous standout athletes and contributed to the rich tradition of Catholic school sports in New York, with basketball programs particularly renowned for their competitive excellence and national impact.[2][3]History
Founding and Early Development
The New York State Catholic Schools League, the precursor to the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), was founded in March 1927 by Catholic high schools in New York City to organize and supervise interscholastic athletic activities. The effort sought to foster fair play and structured competition solely among Catholic institutions, distinct from public school organizations like the Public Schools Athletic League, thereby addressing the need for dedicated oversight in a growing network of parochial schools. The initial organizational meeting took place on March 8, 1927, at St. Francis Xavier High School, where representatives from 27 Catholic high schools in the greater New York area convened to establish the southern (Metropolitan) branch of the league. Progress included planning for athletic supervision and fall schedules, with the gathering announced in The New York Times on March 9, 1927.[9] On March 30, 1927, the branch was officially formed, electing Rev. Charles Faivre as president, Rev. Joseph J. Brown as vice president, Rev. Brother Wilfrid Mary as secretary, and Rev. Brother Kiley as treasurer; charter members comprised twelve schools, including Fordham Preparatory School, All Hallows Institute, La Salle Academy, Regis High School, St. Ann's Academy, Xavier High School, Brooklyn Preparatory School, Loughlin Memorial High School, Brooklyn Cathedral, St. John's Preparatory School, St. Francis Preparatory School, and Holy Trinity High School.[10] The league's debut event was a track and field meet on May 26, 1927, hosted at Fordham University and open to all New York City Catholic high schools, supervised by a committee led by Rev. Joseph J. Brown.[10] Building on this foundation, basketball was introduced as an organized league sport in 1928, featuring the inaugural Catholic High Schools Athletic Association basketball tournament with district finals that winter.[11] Football and swimming joined the program in 1930, expanding competitive opportunities during the league's early development phase.Expansion and Structural Changes
By the mid-20th century, the organization was known as the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) to reflect its expanded scope beyond initial local leagues, incorporating a wider array of sports and geographic areas across New York. By at least 1950, it was referred to as CHSAA.[12] The association developed its sectional structure during the 1950s and 1960s to manage growing participation, establishing four regional divisions aligned with diocesan boundaries: the New York Section (encompassing Manhattan and the Bronx), the Brooklyn-Queens Section, the Nassau-Suffolk Section (covering Long Island), and the Buffalo Section (serving western New York). This organization facilitated more localized competition while maintaining statewide championships. The Buffalo Section was incorporated through affiliation with the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association, founded in 1948 as a league for Catholic high schools in the region that also included private secular institutions from the outset, distinguishing it from the other exclusively Catholic sections.[6] Key expansions in athletic offerings during this period included cross country, building on earlier programs to promote endurance sports amid postwar interest in youth athletics. Ice hockey was formally added in the 1970s.[13] These developments contributed to the association's growth and support for robust interscholastic rivalries. Facing school closures and demographic shifts in Catholic education during the late 20th century—such as the shuttering of 40 percent of U.S. Catholic high schools between 1964 and 1984 due to declining enrollment and financial strains—the CHSAA adapted by realigning leagues, consolidating divisions, and prioritizing sustainability among surviving institutions to preserve competitive opportunities.[14]Governance
Administrative Framework
The Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), formally known as the New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association, operates under the oversight of the Archdiocese of New York and regional dioceses, including the Dioceses of Brooklyn-Queens, Rockville Centre (encompassing Nassau-Suffolk counties), and Buffalo.[15] This diocesan structure ensures alignment with Catholic educational principles while coordinating statewide athletic activities among member schools.[16] At the central level, the CHSAA is led by a State Executive Committee, which serves as the primary governing board with representation from each section. The executive board includes a president (currently Denise Hillig), vice president (Kevin Pigott), treasurer (Sal Fischetti), and secretary (Lorraine Bouklas), supported by sectional presidents and consultants who address policy, finance, and operations.[15] Sectional commissioners or presidents—such as Kevin Pigott for the Archdiocese of New York section—manage local responsibilities, including scheduling, dispute resolution, and compliance within their regions: New York (Archdiocese), Brooklyn-Queens, Nassau-Suffolk, and Buffalo (Monsignor Martin Association).[15][17] The CHSAA maintains affiliation with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to adopt standardized rules and best practices, while retaining independent authority over Catholic school competitions.[18] The State Executive Committee convenes annual meetings to oversee budgeting for key areas such as facilities maintenance, official training and assignment, and championship awards, supporting operations across approximately 30 member schools as of 2025.[15] A distinctive feature of the CHSAA's framework is its unified approach to certain sports, notably football, where sectional champions from all four regions advance to compete for a single New York State Catholic title through the New York Catholic High School Football League (NYCHSFL).[19] This structure promotes statewide excellence while preserving sectional autonomy in daily administration.[16]Eligibility and Competition Rules
Eligibility for participation in CHSAA athletics is restricted to students who are enrolled full-time at one of the association's member Catholic high schools. These students must also meet academic standards, such as maintaining a minimum 70% average in their coursework, to ensure that athletic involvement supports rather than hinders educational progress. Additionally, physical examinations are required annually, and students must adhere to age limits, typically not exceeding their 19th birthday by the start of the season.[20][21] Transfer rules are stringent to prevent athletic motivation from influencing school changes, requiring diocesan approval for any inter-school moves; without such approval, students face varsity ineligibility for a period, often one year or half a season depending on timing and circumstances. In most CHSAA sections, transfers from non-Catholic schools are generally prohibited to preserve the association's Catholic identity, though the Buffalo section offers an exception with more flexible enrollment policies allowing broader participation. These measures align with broader efforts to maintain competitive balance and ethical recruitment practices.[22][16] Competition is structured around seasonal schedules to promote organized and safe interscholastic play: fall features sports like football and cross country, winter includes basketball and hockey, and spring covers baseball and track and field, among others. Each season culminates in sectional playoffs within the association's geographic divisions (New York, Brooklyn-Queens, Nassau-Suffolk, and Buffalo), leading to intersectional championships that determine state representatives. All contests emphasize a sportsmanship code rooted in Catholic values, prohibiting discrimination, hazing, or unsportsmanlike conduct, with violations resulting in ejections, suspensions, or further penalties to foster fair play and moral development.[23][16][24] Disputes regarding eligibility, transfers, or competition outcomes are handled through sectional appeals boards, where schools can submit formal requests for review by CHSAA commissioners or diocesan officials. The association maintains alignment with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) for state-level intersections, allowing CHSAA champions to compete in NYSPHSAA tournaments under shared guidelines for fairness and oversight.[25][26] As of the 2024-2025 season, CHSAA has enhanced concussion protocols in accordance with updated New York State Education Department guidelines, mandating immediate removal from play, medical clearance, and graduated return-to-participation plans for all student-athletes. Equity rules for girls' sports have also been strengthened through new NYSPHSAA classification criteria for non-public schools, addressing competitive balance by factoring in enrollment reach and promoting equal opportunities across genders.[27][26]Membership
Current Sections and Member Schools
The Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) is organized into four active sections, each corresponding to distinct geographic regions within New York State, with member schools classified by enrollment size into divisions such as AA, A, and B to promote competitive equity.[1] These sections facilitate local competitions while allowing for intersectional championships, encompassing approximately 70 active member schools as of November 2025.[1] The New York Section comprises approximately 31 schools primarily located in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Westchester County, serving urban and suburban Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of New York. Representative members include Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, and Iona Preparatory School in Westchester.[28] The Brooklyn-Queens Section includes 15 schools situated in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, drawing from the Diocese of Brooklyn and supporting a diverse array of coeducational and single-sex institutions. Notable examples are Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, and Christ the King Regional High School in Queens.[29] The Nassau-Suffolk Section features 9 schools on Long Island, focusing on Nassau and Suffolk counties with an emphasis on regional rivalries among larger Catholic high schools. Key representatives include Chaminade High School in Mineola, St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, and Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville.[30] The Buffalo Section consists of 15 schools in western New York, operating under the Monsignor Martin Association and uniquely incorporating non-Catholic affiliates to broaden participation, a structure developed through historical expansions for regional viability. Examples include Canisius High School and Nichols School in Buffalo.[31]Former Member Schools
The Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) has experienced the loss of numerous member schools over its nearly century-long history, primarily due to financial challenges, declining enrollment, and broader trends in urban Catholic education amid demographic shifts and rising operational costs. These closures reflect the pressures on parochial schools in New York City, where enrollment in Catholic high schools dropped significantly from the mid-20th century onward, leading to consolidations and shutdowns that affected athletic programs and community ties. While exact figures vary, historical records indicate at least two dozen such institutions have departed since the league's inception in 1927, often leaving lasting legacies in CHSAA competitions. One prominent example is Brooklyn Preparatory School, a Jesuit institution in Brooklyn that joined CHSAA early in its existence and competed in sports like swimming and track. The school, which opened in 1908, faced mounting financial strains from a 1968 provincial consolidation initiative within the Society of Jesus, exacerbated by high operational costs in an urban setting. It closed at the end of the 1971-1972 academic year, ending its tenure as a CHSAA member after over six decades of participation. St. John Villa Academy in Staten Island, an all-girls Catholic high school founded in 1924 by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, was an active CHSAA competitor in sports including track, basketball, and volleyball until its final year. The institution struggled with persistently low enrollment—falling below sustainable levels—and escalating expenses, prompting its announcement of closure in January 2018. It ceased operations at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, marking the end of its athletic involvement in the association after producing notable teams, such as multiple CHSAA volleyball champions. Power Memorial Academy, an all-boys school in Manhattan operated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers since 1931, was a powerhouse in CHSAA basketball and track, winning city titles in baseball as early as 1937 and cross-country championships in the 1970s. The school's 90-year-old building deteriorated severely, requiring an estimated $3 million in repairs that proved unaffordable amid broader financial woes. It closed in June 1984, concluding its long-standing membership and leaving a void in the league's competitive landscape. Bishop Dubois High School, established in 1946 in Harlem as an all-boys Catholic institution, participated in CHSAA events including track and field, where it earned recognition in league halls of fame. Like many urban Catholic schools, it grappled with enrollment declines tied to demographic changes in the neighborhood and rising costs during the 1970s economic pressures on the Archdiocese of New York. The school shuttered after the 1975-1976 academic year, its final graduating class marking the end of its athletic contributions to the association. Rice High School in Harlem, founded in 1938 and known for its storied basketball program that produced NBA talents and secured CHSAA titles like the 1994 championship, faced acute financial instability in the early 21st century. Despite fundraising efforts, the school could not overcome deficits driven by low tuition revenue and operational expenses, leading to its closure announcement in May 2011. It ended operations on June 30, 2011, after a final season that included a CHSAA semifinal appearance, further illustrating the impact of enrollment drops in New York City's Catholic school sector. More recently, All Hallows High School in the Bronx, an all-boys Catholic school founded in 1909 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, competed in various CHSAA sports including basketball and baseball. It faced chronic financial difficulties and declining enrollment, leading to its closure announcement in January 2025 and cessation of operations on June 30, 2025, after 116 years.[32] Similarly, Preston High School in the Bronx, an all-girls institution established in 1941 and affiliated with the Ursuline Sisters, participated in CHSAA athletics such as volleyball and track. Persistent enrollment shortfalls and rising costs prompted its board to announce closure in February 2025, with the school ending operations at the close of the 2024-2025 academic year.[33]Athletic Programs
Sports Offered
The Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) sanctions a variety of interscholastic sports across its sections in New York, organized by traditional seasonal schedules to promote balanced athletic participation. These sports are divided into fall, winter, and spring categories, with opportunities for boys, girls, and co-educational teams, ensuring broad access while adhering to state athletic guidelines.[28][29]Fall Sports
- Football (boys): A contact sport emphasizing team strategy and physical conditioning, primarily offered in the New York City and Long Island sections.[29]
- Cross Country (boys/girls): An endurance running discipline held on courses of varying terrain, promoting individual and team competition.[28]
- Soccer (boys/girls): A fast-paced team sport focusing on skill, agility, and tactical play, available across all sections.[28]
- Volleyball (girls): A net-based team sport highlighting spiking, blocking, and serving techniques, scheduled in the fall for alignment with regional calendars.[28]
Winter Sports
- Basketball (boys/girls): A high-intensity team sport involving dribbling, shooting, and defensive maneuvers, one of the most participated-in offerings.[28][29]
- Ice Hockey (boys): A fast-contact sport on ice, emphasizing skating speed and puck handling, primarily in sections with suitable facilities.[28]
- Swimming (boys/girls): Competitive events in strokes like freestyle and relay races, fostering aquatic skills and endurance.[28]
- Wrestling (boys): A grappling discipline with weight-class matches, focusing on technique and strength.[29]
Spring Sports
- Baseball (boys): A bat-and-ball team sport involving pitching, hitting, and fielding, central to the season's offerings.[28]
- Softball (girls): Similar to baseball but adapted for faster-paced play with a larger ball, emphasizing strategic base running.[28]
- Track and Field (boys/girls): A multifaceted event including sprints, jumps, and throws, allowing specialization in various disciplines.[28]
- Lacrosse (boys/girls): A stick-and-ball contact sport combining speed, passing, and goal-scoring, with distinct rules for each gender.[28]
- Tennis (boys/girls): A racket sport played in singles or doubles, stressing precision, footwork, and strategy.[28]